BA (Hons) Public Services (Including Foundation Year)

The Foundation Year in Public Services forms part of an integrated four-year degree programme, and is designed for students who do not currently meet the admissions criteria for direct entry onto a degree course in subjects including BA (Hons) Public Services.

This Public Services course will allow you to explore areas including sociology, law and social policy, alongside giving you the skills, knowledge and confidence to progress to continue onto a Degree course and have the opportunity to meet your aspirations.

This course will be taught over three days per week to allow students to manage study around other work and family commitments.

Students will study six modules, which will be assessed via a number of examinations, assignments and presentations.

The study skills module is designed to help you with examinations and revision techniques, as well as skills including note taking, essay writing, referencing and planning assignments.

Study Skills

Investigative Project

Psychology

Sociology

Law in Context

Social Policy

Teaching

You will learn through lectures and seminars, and actively participate in learning through individual study, and written and oral presentations. You will also gain experience in group work and workshops.

The study skills module will also help you with examination and revision techniques, as well as skills including note taking, essay writing, referencing and planning assignments.

Assessment

Students are assessed via a number of examinations, assignments and presentations.

The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. Most offers we make are at the top of the range, but we take all aspects of an application into consideration and applicants receive a personalised offer. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.

Typical A-Level Offer

EE to exclude General Studies.

Typical BTEC Offer

BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass.

Typical Access to HE Offer

Pass the Access to HE Diploma.

Additional Requirements

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C/Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International Entry Requirements

We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.

English Requirements

In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.

Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.

August
2020
- July
2021
Fees

Full-time UK and EU:
£9000

Full-time International:
£13200

August
2021
- July
2022
Fees

Full-time UK and EU: TBC

Full-time International: TBC

Additional Costs

Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed below. Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.

UK and EU students

Apply via UCAS if you are a UK/EU residing applicant, applying for year 1 of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.

Our Careers and Employability Service

This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.

Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.

The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere, as well as living and studying in the same place. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.